‘Refuge’ to operate National Domestic Violence Helpline

Domestic abuse charity Refuge has been awarded a grant to operate a vital helpline to provide confidential advice for domestic abuse victims.

Refuge has been awarded more than £1.2 million to run the National Domestic Violence Helpline, a free service which provides confidential information and expert support to people affected by domestic abuse.

The service is free to call on 0808 2000 247. It is staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by a dedicated team of experts.

As well as getting support, staff can help victims access refuge accommodation and other specialist services.

Refuge has also secured additional funding to develop new digital and mobile resources to support even more victims. This includes increasing capacity to answer more live calls, developing webchat services and publishing information on social media channels to widen the availability of the helpline service.

Prior to this, Refuge operated the helpline in partnership with Women’s Aid for 15 years. The government retendered the contract last year and both charities submitted separate bids. The current arrangement comes to an end this autumn.

The government has committed more than £1 million a year up to 2022 to help fund 6 other helplines. These include support woman and girls who are experience violence, men experiencing violence and specialist support for other victims. These are: